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DTC in the Press

August 2017 - Law Society of New South Wales
Journal

Work-life balance used to mean aiming to leave work on time so
that you could have hours left over in the day to devote to such
essentials as exercise, eating well, spending quality time with
friends and family, pursuing hobbies and getting a good night's
rest. But in the modern technological age of smartphones and
tablets, the always-on nature of our lives means that work follows
us wherever we go, and being physically removed from our workspace
counts for little in terms of "switching off." Speaking with the
Law Society of New South Wales Journal, DTC's Head of
Organisational Development Services, Rachel Setti, says that trying
to force a separation of work and personal life only compounds the
problem, and that unless we actively integrate work and personal
time, our happiness and general wellbeing may dwindle.

It can take a person who is experiencing domestic violence on
average five to seven attempts to disclose their situation to
somone - so if the first instance is not positive, it can reduce
the likelihood of the person disclosing again. With this in mind,
DTC's CEO, Michele Grow, spoke with HC Online to explain the
importance of equipping managers and people leaders with the skills
to support staff experiencing domestic violence, if and when they
need it.

The statistics on domestic family violence in Australia make for
disturbing reading - one woman is killed each week as a
result of domestic violence, and one in three women will experience
domestic violence at some point in their lives. For women aged 15
to 44, domestic violence is the leading contributor of death. With
DFV affecting the performance, health, wellbeing and safety of
those experiencing it, it is important for workplaces to recognise
the need to have in place policies and procedures that support
affected staff, and also to encourage a workplace culture that
promotes equality and adopts a zero-tolerance approach to violence
against women. CEO of DTC, Michele Grow, explains.

As Australia's leading workplace legal and human resources
solutions business, GCB Group has released a review of workplace
relations.
DTC CEO, Michele Grow, comments on mental health in the workplace
and the benefits of a preventative approach.
See page 8-11

With one-in-five Australians taking their first steps in the
working world through jobs in retail, many of us are familiar with
the toils of working in this demanding industry - long hours on
your feet, quarrelsome customers and insociable working-hours are
just a few of the drawbacks, with stress and fatigue featuring high
in the longterm also. Michele Grow shines a light on what employers
can do to improve the wellbeing of workers in this sector.

Nurses have the noble responsibility of being the caretaker of
the health and wellbeing of patients who fall under their watch.
But how do you manage to support the wellbeing of those in your
care when in doing so you are subjected to stress, fatigue and
anxiety, all within an environment that is increasingly becoming
more violent and exhibiting more and more incidents of bullying and
harassment? Michele Grow investigates.

FIFO workers already face a range of challenges to their mental
health. Increasingly however, it's the limitless amount of junk
food in the canteens that is posing a threat, with the promise of
tasty steaks, chips and cakes being the only highlight of the day
for many of these isolated workers. The result? Increasing
percentages of obesity among members of the FIFO community. Michele
Grow suggests that not only this, but domestic violence is also on
the rise.

Featuring in a host of Australian publications including The
Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Canberra Times and Brisbane
Times, DTC's Michele Grow discusses The Oversharer - that
colleague who has tended to share too much personal information
during light worktime banter. Apart from the obvious distraction
that this causes to your work, what about the times when the
content of the conversation makes you feel that little bit uneasy
or uncomfortable? How should you deal with such conversations?
Michele Grow discusses this delicate and tricky subject.

Though it's heralded as a time of good cheer, the
Christmas period for many people poses a lot of problems and
stress. To counter that, Michele Grow has compiled a list of seven
strategies to help you tackle Christmas stress.

Are you one of our nation's thousands of workers who
climbs into bed at night, laptop under one arm, and proceeds to
busily catch up on emails, only to finally settle down for sleep
but cannot because your mind is still abuzz? Michele Grow reveals
the full truth behind your brain activity and the "shiny
screen."

They're a constant presence on our roads - in lorries, in
utes, in taxis and pick-ups and everything in between. But how much
do you know about the life of a professional driver? With long work
hours, prolonged absences from home and lack of exercise, our
nation's drivers are a lot more prone to mental illness than one
might think and the marked increase in the instances of suicide in
this industry bears testimony to this sad truth. Michele Grow
investigates.

The biggest challenge facing HR in Australia today is mental
illness. Every year, one in five adults has a mental health
difficulty and the estimated cost of the related lost productivity
is $20bn annually. In this article, Michele Grow shows why
proactive management is key and reveals the proven Return on
Investment for a DTC EAP program.

The hospitality industry by its nature doesn't always offer a
hospitable lifestyle for its workforce - long hours, late-night
shifts and difficult customers are just a handful of the challenges
these workers typically face. In the following article, Michele
Grow examines the subsequent repercussions to the mental and
physical health and wellbeing of workers in this industry.

Australians can be thankful that we have come off better than
most following the GFC - however not every sector of our workforce
has been so lucky. This article examines one such group and DTC's
CEO, Michele Grow, reveals the alarming new trends presenting to
DTC's employee assistance programs.

Can mediation save a life? Depending on the grievousness of the
situation, the answer may be yes. In this piece, Michele Grow,
DTC's CEO, offers advice for employers on how to boost the chances
of a successful mediation.

With statistics showing that 45% of Australians will experience
a mental illness at some stage in their lives, DTC's CEO, Michele
Grow, speaks about the importance for organisations to recognise
the signs of mental health issues in their workforce.

Trailblazing new research by Davidson Trahaire Corpsych
reveals a direct cost benefit back to organisations who invest in
employee's wellbeing. The study was the largest ever of its kind to
be conducted.

This article by DTC's CEO, Michele Grow, tackles the risks to
mental health and wellbeing that are associated with FIFO and DIDO
work. The article offers active solutions for employers on how they
can effectively improve the experience of these type of
workers.

If you're not one yourself, you're probably at the very least a
friend or a family member of one of Australia's multiple thousands
of FIFO (Fly in, fly out) workers. This article explores the highs
and lows of the FIFO lifestyle both for the workers themselves and
for their families.

If you can confidently take time off work due to an obvious
physical ailment, should you not be afforded the same leeway even
if your ailment is not visible to the naked eye? Seeking to address
this issue, our CEO, Michele Grow gives her account on why mental
health must be regarded as seriously as physical health.

Half the Australian population will experience a mental health
condition at some stage in their lives - an even greater concern is
that more than 50% of those people don't seek help, even though
effective treatments are available.

Alcohol problems and workplace bullying and harassment in the
mining sector have escalated dramatically in the last 12 months and
reflect widespread mental health issues and job stress in the
sector, according to a consulting psychologist.﻿

beyondblue has appointed DTC as the sole licensee for the
National Workplace Program. Sessions are specifically
designed for senior executives, managers and general staff to suit
a range of organisational environments and industries.

How we build resilience to bounce back from adversity may just
depend on our employers. So are law firms living up to their
duty of care to their employees to reduce debilitating stress in a
difficult economic climate?